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NFL notes: Jags’ Henne, Bortles sharp in loss to Bears

The Associated Press

CHICAGO — Chad Henne passed for 130 yards and a touchdown, and Blake Bortles threw for 160 in relief before backup quarterback Jordan Palmer rallied the Chicago Bears to a 20-19 preseason victory over the Jacksonville Jaguars on Thursday night.

Palmer, trying to beat out Jimmy Clausen for the No. 2 job, led Chicago to two fourth-quarter touchdowns. Senorise Perry scored on a 5-yard run with 50 seconds left, and C.J. Wilson intercepted a pass to seal the win after Henne and Bortles picked the Bears apart.

Jared Allen made his first appearance for Chicago. The star offseason acquisition finished with one tackle for a loss on an otherwise quiet night. He sat out last week’s preseason-opening win over Philadelphia after he missed practices because his wife had a baby.

Henne showed mobility in the pocket and completed 12 of 17 passes before leaving with a 13-7 lead in the second quarter.

Pettine said Thursday that Hoyer will begin Monday night’s game in Washington against the Redskins. Pettine says the team is “comfortable” with Hoyer starting and that “it’s little overblown as to who the starter is going to be.”

Hoyer and Manziel will both get snaps with Cleveland’s starting offense. The two quarterbacks have been competing for the starting job since training camp opened last month.

Hoyer started the preseason opener at Detroit and Manziel, the popular first-round pick from Texas A&M, only played with the second-stringers.

Pettine wants to name his starter for the Sept. 7 season opener at Pittsburgh before the Browns’ third preseason game on Aug. 23.

Off-duty cops may have guns at Vikings games

MINNEAPOLIS — A judge has struck down — for now — an NFL policy preventing off-duty Minnesota police officers from carrying guns at Vikings games.

Judge Ivy Bernhardson ruled Thursday in favor of the Minnesota Police and Peace Officers Association and the Police Officers Federation of Minneapolis. However, the NFL’s policy will remain in place pending further court guidance. The judge hasn’t set future court dates.

The ruling applies only in Minnesota.

Police groups argued that even off-duty officers need to be armed at Vikings games, to protect themselves and the public.

NFL spokesman Greg Aiello says the policy is designed to keep fans safe. He says the NFL will continue enforcing it until the matter is resolved.